I’m a vet & wouldn’t own 5 dogs – watch out for a breed prone to pricy back problems & secretly-high-maintenance pooches
A VET has revealed the five dogs she would never own.
She’s seen enough pets through her surgery to work out which breeds have pricey back problems.
But other pooches were secretly high maintenance.
Dr. Rachel Siu’s (@exotic.pet.vet) video has gone viral, hitting over 313,000 views and thousands of comments.
There was a lot of debate over her choices, but also some consensus.
Dr. Rachel’s list is borne from experience.
She has seen many breeds come through her surgery in Dallas, Texas.
“Top five dog breeds I would personally not own as a veterinarian,” she said.
“It’s important when you’re choosing a dog to pick a breed that goes with your lifestyle,” she added.
HUSKY
They are beautiful, intelligent, and super-active.
Like a Border Collie, a Husky is a working dog and likes to keep busy.
If you lead a sedentary life, then this guy is not for you, and you are not for him.
It should be no surprise that Huskies love the cold – look at that coat of fur.
So, living in 110 degrees in Texas is pretty grim for these dogs.
DACHSHUND
They are adorable, they are cute, they are funny, and they can be very expensive.
The basic physiology of these sausage dogs does them no favors.
“Because of their long backs, they’re really prone to intervertebral disc disease,” said Dr. Rachel.
You would be wise to keep a pot of money aside just in case because back surgery is likely to be expensive.
GREAT DANE
These lolloping, loving, and gregarious dogs are “goofballs.”
But they have short lifespans, developing health issues early on in life.
Prepare yourself for heartbreak.
DOODLE
These are the current ‘it’ dog, they are everywhere.
They can be mixed with pretty much any other breed.
Their popularity has soared in recent years, with pet owners attracted to their low maintenance and hypoallergenic qualities.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth, said our vet.
“These dogs are often mixed with shedding dogs so they do shed and they also need grooming very frequently,” she wrote.
Their temperament is unpredictable and she has seen some that are wonderful to work with and others who have serious behavioral problems.
BULLDOGS
These guys are adorable but they have serious respiratory problems.
Genetics are not on the side of any brachycephalic dog.
“I just would not own them,” she said. “They’re just not a healthy breed.
“They struggle to breathe with their smooshed faces.”
Like the Dachshund, they also suffer from intervertebral disc disease.
Some commenters were harsh.
“I believe pugs and bulldogs should go extinct for their own good,” said one person.
But another person agreed with our vet.
“I’m Inuit and it breaks my heart to see Huskies in the wrong environment,” she wrote.
“We love doctors speaking out against doodles and other designer breeds,” added a third person.
There was one fan of the pure-bred poodle.
“I have a standard poodle. He’s hypoallergenic, gentle, smart, and I can groom him like I want. I don’t know why people get doodles,” they said.